US2977715A - Crop treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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April 4, 1961 M. E. LINDSAY cRoP TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1, 1958 FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

April 4, 1961 M. E. LINDSAY cRoP TREATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l, 1958 INVENTOR. /VAU/F/c-f E. Z/MDSAY III JIJI. L

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AGE/VT April 4,l 1961 M. E. LINDSAY 2,977,715

CROP TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1, "1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 40k/Cf /A/DSAY lf/f MM to said foliage, that is; to `both the topsandjbottlonfspf 'thele'YeS "f 'United States zg-977,115 t cRor TREATiNG Arm/Rams This invention relates to a crop treating apparatus'an'd is particularly concernedfwith the treating of row 'crops with chemical treating materials, 4'whether dry or wet, it

being ageneral object of this invention to thoroughlyy treat the plants of-'Irow crops in a reliable and'efiicient manner. 1

Farming is ldone in rows of plantsthat are uniformly spaced both laterally and longitudinally of each other, and that are plantedin uniformly graded soil.: Proper treatment of extensivecrops isv usually costly and time""con suming in that large quantities of chemical materials are needed.` That is, the fumigating spray, mist, or ldust,

spread-by landvehicles orby aircraft, as the c ase` may i be,"requires substantial time and materials and` the eectiveness thereofdependsgreatly upon the skillpf' application. In practice, too' much`- or too little.' chemical materials can belapplied anda great deal thereoffisordi- 2,977,715 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 ice . 2 the form of `moisture to plants of a row crop by means of generating a fog or mist.V The structure is provided with atomizingmeana'said means directing a mist through a closed system. s j i `It is still another' object of this `invention to provide a structure of the ncharacter ythus far referred to that involves eiectivemeansfor' applying powdered treating materials to the plants fof a row crop. The structure is provided with dispensing means for Ipowdered materials to be-circulated through a closed' system.

Also, it is an object of this invention to provide an air blowing and circulating lmeans for carrying any one of narily wasted.V ijFor example, whenftreatment is fcarried 1" out in the open ,"as"inl the usual case, -fumigatfingfogfor spray,- or' dusting mixtures, are readily carriedo'if or away by .the wind, oi-said materialslmay simply evaporate and/or rise into'the atmosphere: or may simply precipitate to and 'beabsorbed by theground. lnany'case,

large quantities of vtreatingxnaterials Vare 'ordinarily v'va'sted or lost and are ineffective.

It is an object of this invention to confine chemical treating materials tothe plants Vof a` row crop so thatthe'y Vare not wasted and at tfhef'same time are, therefore., effec-Y tively employed.` YL f An object othis invention is to circulate cropftreating materials throughfa closed systemso thatall of the treat- 7 ing materialsemployed are eie'ctively app ied to the crop, Another object ofthis inverltionf is toiprovi ajstr'u ture adapted to be advanced over or through`- a row crop the above mentioned treating materials and which recovers unapplied materials to recirculate them until they are applied to the plants of the crop.

' Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a Amobile enclosure for the plants of a row crop and wherein articulated closures are employed to seal the entry and exit openings of the enclosure.

Still] further, it is an object of this invention'to provide a crop treating apparatus-of' the character referred t0 that is adjustable in order to accommodate plants'fof varied size, and an apparatus that is adapted 'to be Operated by a'suitable-draft vehicle, such as,' for example, a tractor with suitable accessory handling devices for the operation Vof various elements off the apparatus, all as later described. Y A

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which description reference is `made to the accompanying drawings in'whichr Fig.v l'is a side elevation of the apparatus showing it f in operation 'over a row crop of plants. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicatedby line 2`2 onlFig. 1. Fig. 3 is sectional similar to Fig.` 2 and illustrates a moditied form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the top of the apparatus and illusi trates the arrangement of the air circulating means. Fig.

4a is an enlarged detailed view of one of the liquid noz-` zles that I provide. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the apparatus that I provide. Fig.' 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the apparatus show n in Fig.

5. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken substantially as indicated by lines 7--7, 8-8 and 9-9-on Fig. 5;

Fig. 1`0.- is an-enlarged detailed sectional view taken as j l indicated by line-10-10 on Fig. 71.* Fig. 11 is "a vertical and which confines chemical treating Lrnaterials`f to'f,an

`enclosure that houses ,thel plants@ofitheeropjand circulates and recirculates said materials to befele tively Y applied to the plants. Y It isanother object QfthsinventiOn to provi a' plant enclosing Vstruc'zture'fthat Ais adapted to be adir` ced over or lthrouglrfa row crop an'd, which involves eans""f0r accelerating a'moving colrnn jof air laden witli tieatiiig materials soI that the `mixture fcrmedithereby'` is directed with increased velocity tojimpinge uponf the plants of the and theftre'atingmaterials are applied from `all fdirectionsj sectional view taken through the structure shown in Fig.

l0. '.Fig. 12 is a view of a portionof the structure shown in'. Fig. 9 and showing one of the material dispensing meansthatl provide, andv Fig. 13 is a view similarto Fig.v 12 and showing another one of the material dispensi ing means that I provide.

.'The' apparatus thatIV pr'bvidejis for use in'treatingof plants with chemicals and'it is'adapted to Ybe'handledby a'iland vehicle to progress over orthrough a crop y"of plants. Farming-isdone in various v'manners, but' g en-v erally involves preparation of the land inuniform'furj rows vthat run parallel'with each other. Rows of plants are grown in the raised portions whilethe valleys there- Y betweenv are used., for irrigating and for passage of" draft vehicles and thelike; In Fig. 1 of the drawings vI .have

indicated atypical.draftvehiclex of-fthe .type equipped withf 'accessory'. operating ..m`echanisms andV tog-which the A elisvattahedtobeoperated us Y thatgI provid Therefore, vehicles or tractors X of the type under consideration are supplied with a lifting mechanism that is power operated and which involves upper and lower lifting arms and 11. The said lifting mechanism iS operated at the ends of the furrows to lift the apparatus from a normal operating position to a raised position, as indicated by phantom lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, It will be apparent how the upward shifting of the arms 10 and 11 will raise the apparatus Y above the crop to the end that the vehicle can be turned. t The apparatus Y is a unit of construction for the treatment of row crops with chemicals and involves, generally, a frame A, one or more housings B, closures C 'for' the housing or housings, air circulating means D, liquid spray means E, fog generating means F, and powder disseminating means G. The frame A may be considered as an element separate from the housing or housing B and is provided to be carried by the tractor arms 10 and 11 and to support the housing or housings. ings B are alike and each is an elongate tunnel-shaped element adapted to engage over and pass through the row crop along4 the furrows thereof. The closures C are provided to shut olf the ends of the tunnel-like housing A to establish a substantially closed chamber therein. The air circulating means D is provided to move a column of air, to accelerate and play said air upon the plants Z of the row crop and to recirculate said air again andA again. The liquid spray means E, fog generating means The hous- F and powder disseminating means G are provided to dispense their respective m-aterials into the column of air that is circulated by the means D, and said means E, F and G may be operated individually or simultane ously, all as circumstances require.

The frame A is preferably in the nature of an adapter, and therefore, may be considered separately from the housing or housings B. The usual vehicle X is of substantial width so that it is common practice to treat ,a plurality of rows of plants Z in one traverse over the crop. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to treat a plurality of individual rows of plants there being a plurality of housings B and related ele,- ments carried by the single frame A. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings there can be four separate housings B, one for each of the four rows of plants. Or, as indi-V cated in Fig. 3, there can be two (or even one) hous-` ings B, each housing accommodatnga plurality ot'l rows; of plants, for example, three rows of plants, each. It will be readily `apparent that the number of housings. B carried bythe frame A can vary as desired,-and, fur-k ther, the number of rows of plants Z accommodated by.

a singlel housing can also vary as desired.

The frame A is adapted to be carried by and to be shifted vertically by the tractor arms 10 and 11., Said. arms 10 and 11 are commonly motivated through the tractor transmission in orderto raise and to lower agri-Y cultural implements, said arms operating in unison .and in substantial parallelismrclative to each other.l In practice, the lower arm 11 is usually powered while the upper arm 10 follows` inra parallelogram motion. The two arms are of substantially the same length and they are individually connected to the frame A by means of vertically spaced pivot pins 12 and 13. The frameA involves spaced side members 14 anda header 15 extending between the Yside members; The pin 12 `issecured vthrough ears on the header 15 while the pinsj'13 lower arms 11, while inv Fi`g.`3 therejisslftow'n,aA pairY of upper arms 10 `and asingle flowerj arm ,11'.' Asclear- .ly shown, the sidel members 14 dependrfrom 'the j h ader 15- tojoinfsidefrails V1,'6 ,atc eachffside-foff-the, .housingQ'BQ ly as they are raised and lowered by movement of the arms 10 and 411.

The housings B are alike and each is a horizontally and longitudinally disposed tunnel-like element having, generally, opposite side walls 20 and a top 25. The side walls 20 are carried by the rails 16, said rails being positioned to ride in spaced valleys and to each side of the row, or rows, of plants Z to be treated. The side walls 16 are at vertically disposed parts terminating at the front end 17 and back end 18 of the housing so that there is an open passage 21 extending through the housing B. The top 25 extends between the top marginal edges 22 ofthe walls 14 and has opposite depending anges 23 that overlie the upper portions of the two opposite walls 20. The top 25 is vertically adjustable and is joined to the side walls 20 through slotted connections 24, there being a screw fastener at each connection 24 so thatv the top 25 can be selectively positioned and then tightened in place. It will be apparent how the housing B is engaged over a row, or rows, of plants Z, and how it is then drawn through the crop by means of the vehicle X, and lifted in order to turn the vehicle at the ends of the rows of the crop.

In accordance with the invention I have provided the closure C for shutting off the ends of the tunnel-like housingY B to form a closed chamber therein. As best illustrated in Figs, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the means C closes both the front and rear ends of vthe housing and involves, generally, doors 30 v'that Iare yieldingly biased to swing closed. As shown, the doors 30 are provided in pairs, there being a pair of vdoors 30 at each end of the housingB. Each pair `of doors 30 forms a closure C adapted to be opened bythe passage of the plants Z into and out of the housingas thevca'se may be; That is, as the housing is moved forwardly through thel row crop the Vplants Z engage upon the doors 30 at the front of the housing causing them to open and to admit the plants into the chamber in the housing and to later engage upon the doors 30 at the rear of the housing causing them to openand to discharge the plants from the chamber in the housing. In the preferred form, the doors 30 are flat elements angularly related to each other,

s each door being pivoted on a vertical hinge 31 in the plane of the side wall 2t). The hinges 31 are opposite eachother while ,the doors 30 egttend rearwardly and inwai'dly to' closely approach nor to engage each other at the center of the structure; As. indicated, the doors are substantially coextensive'V with the height of the said walls 20,y with'a lower edge .spaced above the rails 16 tofat least partially clear the furrows, andl with a top edge spaced down from the top 25 to allow vertical adjustment of the ftop. Y A

Each door 30 hasa movable panel 32 carried on I spaced rollers 33 and 34. Since the apparatus is designed to move ahead or through a crop of plants, frictional engagement is reduced by providing doors with moving faces. That is, the face or ypanel 32 of each doorV moves with the'plants Z, preferably upon frictional engagement therevvith'f` It is to `be lunderstoodr that the rollers can be powered, if so desired, so that rearward motion of the' panel 32 coincides with the forward speed of the apparatus through the crop. ` rThe rollers 33 and 34 are laterally spaced, the, -rollers 33being rotatably carried2 are securedfthrough lugs bathe/side membersjl'l': In; Flg- 2 there 1S ShQWIl a smgluppef afm 10535@ 'aPl'l Off is sftfj and/or. pliableltov'yield when engaged ,by theY plants'Z. There isa recess 36 provided inthe side wall theregbeing aicornrnon side merribeilsgt` between 4adjacentV 1f.

housings B. 'Furth v, s er brede 1'?V (Slee Fie- 5 reinforces.- i s vthe structure to tl 1e;ei:tdl that ,the rails lentend. horizontal,-

onV thefcenters ofthe hinges 31, and the rollers 34 being rtatably'carried by a frame at the outer'edge ofthe door. `Thepanel 32.is a continnous loop ofdlexible mat'eral that istrainedover the rollers33 and 34 andwhich 2Q "tor cefive the .door 30 when fully1openedand atlever4 is adjustable by providing a screw positioned -by a nut agrarie so that Vthe. pressure exerted to` close the doors '30`is readily. variable. It will be apparent how the doors 30 yield to* the passage of plants Z into and out ofthe chamber in the housingB, andrhow they yieldingly press against theplants Z, or upon eachother, to close the' chamber Ainthe housing. Y .I

. A feature of the present invention is the air circulating means rD that moves a column ofair throughrthe ch'amber in the housing B. The said means vD acts to drive the air-.into` the housing and recirculates said air by againiwithdrawing it rfromthelousing, Thatlis, except for leakage, the .same `column-'of` air is recirculated again andiv again through the ih'ousing t @As shown, i the means Dinvclves,v generallypanairf receiver 40,., an air drive means 41, and one or moreair nozzles 42. The receiver -40 and nozzles 42..are associated withthe\honsing B Aso that airis withdrawn fromthe housing and Ii's thendriven byuthe means41 tobe directeddnto` the housing where it`impnges. upon .the plants Z.- t f rAs' best illustratedin Figs. 5,16 and 9 of the drawings, the air receiver 40 is in the form` of a manifoldy with `a horizontal header-44 and depending'extensions 45.Y The header`44 extends?V transverse of the housing B and is spaced. above .thetop thereof while the extensions-45 lieadjacent the-opposite side walls 20. Thelower end portionshfthe.extensions 45 open into the chamber within the housing B to receive airtherefrom,.as shown.

The airdrive lmeans 41` can varywidely as'circumstances .require and is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. As indicated, the means `41 involves a blower 47, or thelike, that is adapted to move a columnof air and toincrease the pressure thereof; g ticular form of the invention illustrated the `air is withdrawn from the central poriion offthe `housing B and` is entered again `intothe housing "atl both end portions thereof; `It is 'to beunderstood that the airY column "can bewithdrawn at one end of the housingB4 vand entered In the parthereohto be directed laterally inward to impinge upon the plant foliage at increased velocity and to then beY withdrawn from the chamber, etc.

As best illustrated in Figs.. 6 and 8 the liquid spray means E is provided to dispense liquid chemical materials into the column of Vair moved by the means D and in a manner to impinge upon the foliage ofthe plants Z. As shown in Fig. 6 the means D and E op- Verate seperately from each other, the air circulating means D moving the column of air that is circulated throughout the chamber and the. means E ldispensing liquid material onto the plants Z. vln'carrying` out the invention, the tractor X carriesa `reservoir 55 and power is taken from Y the tractor to operate 'a pump for delivering liquid under .56 delivers liquid to piping 57 that branches to spray bars 60 that I provide.

suitable pressure throughout a` supply hose 56. The hose Y the several The spray bars 60 can beV positioned in various manners andare located at Vthe opposite side walls of the housing B. As shown, the bars 60 are elongate with a plurality of nozzles 58 arranged in a vertically disposed series. yThat is, bars'60 are Yvertically disposed, and the nozzles 58 are faced inwardly to direct liquid spray onto the plants Z. 'The force `of impingement is controlled by thelpressure supplied. As shown in Fig. 6,`I'prefer toemploy a spray bar 60 at each air nozzle 42and in prac? tice. the spray bars 60 can be `mounted adjacent to said nozzles 42. j In order to 'adjust the direction of spray the bars are rotatably mounted by means of U-bolts 59 and A they are coupled to the piping 57 by means of Y unions 61. Further, and as shown in Fig. 4a, the indiagain into'the housing at the otherend thereof- AIn the case illustrated, the blower 47 draws airfrom' the: center of the header 44,` intermediate the extensions 45 and delivers air under increased pressure' through ducts 48. As later described, there is a` pair of air nozzles 42 at y 'eachendwof the housing in whichrcas'e there is at least-'fone duct 48: extendingforwardlyA and at least one duct 48extendingrearwardly 'from the blower 47. In practice; since the nozzles 42,are laterally spaced, as

fshown, the ducts 48 arev branched, there being a pair of 'diverging ducts 48 extending to the pairs :of4 spaced rnozzles 42. f The ducts 48 are horizontally disposedand .extend'from the delivery vportion of theblower47.

vidual nozzles 58 are swivelly mounted, asby a ball-joint vconnection 58", so that the spray can be projected in any direction, i.e.. up and down and laterally. It will be Vreadily apparent h ow the U-bolts 59 are 'loosened in order to turn the bars 60 into the desired rotative'positi'on.

Asv best illustrated inFigs. 4 and 12 of the drawings, the fog generating means F is provided to dispense moisture laden with chemical materials into the column ofai'r. `moved by the'means D and ina manner to disperse and'thereby mix with the entire column of moving airy- The `means F can be supplied'with liquid chemical materials the'same as the means E above described, through piping' 57. In practice the liquid dispensed into thecolumn of air at most any'point, it being preferred to introduce said liquid. into the ducts 48 that lead to the air nozzles-42. Thus, there are separate means F one for each air nozzle 42, and each involves a jet 63 adapted to dispense said liquid in a mist form 'to bercarried by the .moving column'of air (see Fig. 4.).a The mist formed Asbestillustratedjn Figs. `5, 6 and' 7 offzthe'drawings, -the air nozzles are "related tof direct 'the' ow of air into the fchamberwithin the housing B at'both theforward and `rear portions thereof'.A Asstated above, the nozzles 42 are provided in pairswitli one nozzle'at each side of lthe housing. The nozzles 42 Yare vertically" disposed and'.

are` formed to direct air laterally andinwardly "to `irn- 'pingeuponfthe plants Z. Asshown in detail `in Figs.

lOfsand 11iI the v'nozzle' itself "involves -a vertical tubular bodyf5-0 with. a vertical slot-shaped openingr'Sl extending along the 'inner sidethereof.H The body .50 is closed atits lower end and is round in cross section. `so that 'it can be turned andfaced as'desired, jSlotted openings y49..areprovided in the `wallsfof thenozzle tvallow for j adjustment and to receive `scr'ewv -fastenersfor securing the 4noyzzlesu42 inthe-selectedposition'. QFurther, airl di l t riectirigfmvearis,A preferably Ya plurality ofspaced=`louvers ora-the like, are employedighe openingfl and are adjustable onfhorizontal'axeslto"di t the' air 52 rotatabjl ong th desiredangle sa f by the jets 63 quickly disperses into the air columnand `is carried through` the chamber to wet the foliage of ...the plants Z. j

nAs best illustrated inFig. 13 of the drawings, the means F above described can be supplemented or replacedby a powder disseminating means G that is provided to dispense dry chemical materials into the means D and in a manner to mix-'with the entire columnfof Vair being moved. As shown, themeans G involves la4 sup- Y v ply bin 65 .that'carries a store of powdered materialsand a valve 66 adapted to pass said material into the column of moving air. I have shown then-leans Gppositioned the same as the means F above described and sthat the powdered material is enteredinto the ducts 48.' The lbin v 65 overlies the valve 66 so that the powdered material flows by. gravity through the valve and into the duct 48.

' The valve 6,6is s'hownf'asa ball valve operated by a lever `v"system andopening vaport67 communicatingwith the interiorfof the"c luct,48.j ,It will be readily apparent'how thepowdered material enters intothe duct to mix with. the `column otrnovi'ng air andgforms a mixture .dust that will adhere to .the"foliage ofthe plants' d'tior'iing meansH for tempering. the' ai 1s circulated tlircnighV the Structurebestilhstrated the, usual!` in Fig. 9 one or more heaters, or coolers, 100,.is placed in the air circulating means D to temper the air handled thereby. In the particular case illustrated, the means H is a heater 100, one in each extension 45, and with a burner 101 and with heat transfer tubes, or flues 102, to heat the air before it enters the header 44. With the heaters 100, as shown, the temperature of circulated air can be increased, or when a cooler is employed it can be decreased.

From the foregoing, the structural relationship of the elements involved and the operation thereof will be readily apparent. As the vehicle X traverses a crop it follows the furrows and draws the apparatus Y over-or through the rows of plants Z. As shown in Fig. 1, the rails 16 have sliding and supporting sealed engagement with the ground at the valleys between the rows, the

entire apparatus being adapted to be lifted in order to.

turn the vehicle at the ends of the rows. As the apparatus Y is advanced along the rows of plants Z thev closures C at the front and rear of the housing B yield to allow entering of and exiting of the plants Z into and out of the housing, while maintaining a substantially effective seal at the front Yand rear of the housing. During operation of the apparatus the blower 57 is operated, as by means of a prime mover 70, for example, a small internal combustion engine and a belt drive 71, to circulate the air in a column that moves through the Chamber. Substantial force can be employed in moving said air column by compressing it with the blower 57 and by discharging it through the nozzles 42. The air discharge' by the nozzles impinges upon the foliage of the plants Z with substantial velocity and agitation thereof and to the end that all sides and faces of the leaves and branches receive the impact of accelerated air. However, if `a tender crop is encountered and which willY not stand severe agitation, then the blower 57 is accordingly open ated at lower speeds, and in some instances the blower can be operated at very low speeds in order to barely agitate the foliage of the crop being treated. Further, there may be instances .where the crop is so tender that air circulation is not advisable and such that fumigation or spraying can be accomplished without operation of the blower, and in this instance the housing B that I provide contines the mist, spray, or powderstothe plants with a minimum of loss thereof.

' The apparatus is lshown carried and handled by a draft vehicle X, said vehicle supplying the required support for traction and for lifting and turning at the ends of the crop rows. It is to be understood, ho'wever, that the apparatus Y per se may be provided with its own vehicle means, if sodesired, including powered traction means and power for the various elements involved, all as hereinabove described.

In accordance with the invention the apparatus deposits chemical treating materials upon the foliage and branches of the plants Z, either dry materials orliquid materials. It is sometimes required that chemicals beapplied in a solid lstream of liquid as by spraying, in which case the spray means E is put into operation. ln other instances the chemical to be applied is most eifective when in the form of a mist, in which case the fog means F is put into operation. Further, powdered chemical preparations require dusting, in which casethe disseminating means G is put into operation. It is`to be understood that any one t or all of the above mentioned dispensing means may be employed singly or in combination together, depending upon the characteristics and compatibilityof the matei rialstobe applied".

.l With the apparatus in operation as above described;

the chemical `materials are played onto andY impi'nge upon all partszof the plants Z. Also, materials thatjare a nat least one'airwnozzle .withinjeach end portion of the Yhousing and in ,communication with said air circulating means'and directingair to impingeuponv plants! withinv ,the housing, gandrnktterial dispensingvmeans :discharging over or through the crop Z and by controlling the rapid-f ity of air circulation, the desired exposure is readily obtained, the length of the housing B being a controlling factor. Further, the'proper application of chemical materials is facilitated by tempering the circulated air to the most desirable condition for said application. Since the circulation system is a closed system very little material is lost, to the end that the apparatus is most efficient in its operation andfapplication of the treating materials handled thereby.

Having described 'only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the spec'ic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and dis- -charging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to withdraw air from the central portion of the housing and to project air into the end portion of the housing to move in columns through and to the said central portion thereof, and material dispensing means discharging into the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said column of air.

2. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, an air nozzle within the housing and in communication with said air circulating means and directing air to impinge upon plants within the housing, and material dispensing means discharging into the circulating means tol enter a crop treating material into the said columnof air., f

3. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plantsasthe housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, air nozzles within and at opposite sides of the housing and in communication with said air circulating means and directing air to impinge upon plants within the housing, and material dispensing means discharging Vinto the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said column of air.

4. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants asthe housing is advanced through the crop, airv circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, a manifold to receive air from the center portion of the housing and in communication with said air circulating means, and at least one air nozzle within'thehousing and in communication with said air circulating means and directing air to impinge upon plants within the housing, and material dispensing means discharging into the air circulating means tol enter a crop treating material into the said column of air.

5. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends `for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulatingrneans to' move Va column of air Vthrough the-housing, a manifold opening into the hous.- ing to receive'airffrom thecentral portion thereof and in communication lwith Vsaid air circulating means, and

9 into the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said columnof air. Y

6. An apparatus for the' treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, a manifold opening into the housing to receive air from the central portion thereof and in communication with said air circulating means, a pair of air nozzles within each end portion of the housing and in communication with said air circulating means and directing air to impinge upon plants within the housing, and material dispensing means discharging into the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said column of air.

7. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to withdraw air from the central portion of the housing and to move a column of air and project it through the housing and toward the central portion thereof, and liquid dispensing means independent of the air circulating means and comprising a liquid pressure supply and at least one liquid nozzle to play liquid treating material onto the plants within the housing and into said column of air.

8. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advancedV through the crop, air circulating means to withdraw air from the central portion of the housing and to move a column of air and project it through the housing and toward the central portion thereof, and liquid dispensing means independent of the'air circulating means and comprising a liquid pressure supply and a spray nozzle within and at each side of the housing to play liquid laterally and inwardly and onto the plants within the housing and into said column of air.

9. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, an air nozzle in communication with said means and directing air to impinge upon plants within the housing, and liquid dispensing means comprising a liquid pressure supply and a liquid nozzle adjacent the said air nozzle to play liquid treating material onto the plants and into said column of air.

10. .An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing eugageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, air nozzles at opposite sides of the housing and in communication with said means and directing air to impinge upon plants within the housing, and liquid dispensing means comprising a liquid pressure supply and a spray bar adjacent the said air nozzles, each of said spray bars having a plurality of nozzles to play liquid treating material onto the plants and onto said column of air.

11. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to withdraw air from the central portion of the housing and to move a column of air and project it through the housing and toward the central portion thereof, and liquid dispensing means inde- 10 pendent of the air circulating means and comprising a liquid pressure supply and fog jet projected into theair circulating means to enter said liquid into said column of air.

12. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop; air circulating means to move a column of air through Athe housing and comprising an air blower and Va duct handling air therefrom to deliver it into the housing, and liquid dispensing means comprising a liquid pressure supply and fog jet to enter said liquid into said column of air in the duct.

13. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, closures carried at the said open ends of the housing and normally closed and adapted to open when engaged by and to pass the plants into and out of the housing, air circulating means to withdraw air from the central portion of the housing and to move a column of air and to project it through the housing and to the said central portion thereof, and material dispensing means discharging into the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said column of air.

14. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, shiftable closures carried at the said open ends of the housing and with movable faces normally closed and adapted to open when engaged by and to pass the plants into and out of the housing, air circulating means to withdraw air from the central portion of the housing and to move a column of air and to project it through the housing and to the said central portion of the housing, and material dispensing means discharging into the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said column of air.

15. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants of row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, and an independent air temperating means discharging into the air circulating means to condition the column of air circulated thereby.

16. An apparatus for the treatment of the plants 0f row crops and including, a movable housing engageable over the crop and with open ends for receiving and discharging plants as the housing is advanced through the crop, air circulating means to move a column of air through the housing, and an independent air tempering means discharging into the air circulating means to condition the column of air circulated thereby, and material dispensing means discharging into the air circulating means to enter a crop treating material into the said column of air circulated thereby.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,174 Patterson July 31, 1906 1,465,557 Oldham Aug. 21, 1923 1,669,435 Wheeler May 15, 1928 2,286,888 Arnold June 16, 194f2 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,168- Great Britain Apr. 19, 1948 623,233 vGreat Britain May 13, 1949

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